Masks Protect Humans from the Pandemic, But What About the Environment?
Wearing masks can protect us from the COVID-19 virus, but they can harm animals and the environment tremendously. Although people usually wear face masks for protection from the disease, many people throw their masks out irresponsibly. The masks can end up in oceans and other bodies of water. This leads to animals consuming masks by mistake, which leads to many health problems for animals in the wild.
Many face masks are found all over the planet. Face masks are not always recyclable, which poses a big threat to our environment. Scientists state that more than 1.5 billion disposable face masks were irresponsibly disposed of this year. If people litter extensively, then the situation can lead to up to 6,800 plus tons of masks. In addition, more than 200 animals were killed by masks this year, which is an enormously high number. Some examples of animals victimized by mask pollution include swans, seagulls, peregrine falcons, and songbirds that mistakes masks for edible food. Disposable masks continue to add to the pollution affecting the planet.
Although masks affect our entire environment as a whole, specifically, the health of our oceans and waterways are at the greatest risks. Marine divers have reported numerous cases of seeing floating masks in the ocean. According to National Geographic, “Littered face masks are blown like tumbleweeds into rivers and streams, which carries them into the seas as well.” When people throw away masks even on land, the masks can somehow find their way into waterways. The masks can accumulate and continue to pose a more dangerous threat to the world’s water supply. Conservationists have warned that the COVID 19 pandemic could spark ocean pollution from the beginning of this pandemic. They reported that masks, latex gloves, and other Covid-19 precautionary items can get tangled in jellyfish and swallowed by fish. Eric Pauget, a French politician states that “with a life span of 450 years, these masks are lasting marine environmental consequences on our environment by disposable masks”. Another crucial aspect that can affect our environment is the carelessness of the people. Many animals can mistake masks for edible food. National Geographic stated that “Many of the chemicals that are made with masks can cause various ailments and even though it’s not enough for animals to eat, they can still be killed”. The chemicals are detrimental to the health of ocean animals and can lead to an abrupt decline in the world's oceans’ biodiversity. Long-term consequences include the marine ecosystem being completely destroyed and beyond repair.
Although these statistics may seem discouraging, it’s not the end. There is still a light of hope as the mask pollution issue is being brought more into the spotlight. Many people are realizing the importance of conservation efforts and pollution protection. Cities along bays and riversides have started to aggressively conduct clean-up efforts to address the growing mask pollution problem. The Ocean Conservancy, an organization that advocates for ocean protection claim that “Even though more masks are coming underwater, the program PPE starts to create a website that allows volunteers to document trash items and upload them to the organizations’ website. During this pandemic, volunteers who participated in beach clean-ups in summer 2020, 107,219 individual items of PPE litter were documented”. Another element that can help address mask pollution is “limiting the use of surgical masks to situations where something disposable is needed” (National Geographic). The local government can also provide multiple local drop-off places to safely dispose of disposable masks. . When we collect tons of masks, we can use them to reduce mask waste and potentially create masks made of recycled material. Instead of throwing away masks all over our planet, we must be mindful of how we dispose of these products. The pandemic has been a long and lonely time for the people, but also for our planet. Let’s all muster up the courage and the energy to help advocate for our Earth by addressing the mask pollution problem. Take Action Today!
Links to volunteer for ocean clean-ups:
- https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=27144 (California)
- https://www.ccamd.org/chesapeake-cleanup-project/ (Maryland)
- https://keepfloridabeautiful.org/get-involved/volunteer/ (Florida)
- https://cleanup.earthday.org/ (World-wide)
- https://www.parley.tv/updates/parley-global-clean-up-network (World-wide)
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Daniel Lee Cho (xxdanielcho@gmail.com) is a student at William H. Farquhar Middle School. He is one of the co-founders and the current vice-president of Earth Minions. He also serves as a Publications Apprentice for the organization. He is passionate about environmental issues including animal cruelty, climate change, habitat loss, and pollution. Daniel hopes to enter the medical field in the future and incorporate his love for the environment into his medical practices. Outside of being a student and an environmental advocate, Daniel enjoys dancing, soccer, singing, and playing musical instruments.
